Background and procedural information:A redistricting commission shall be established to recommend to the legislature redistricting plans for Kansas house of representatives districts, Kansas senate districts, state board of education districts and United States congress districts.

Under the proposed legislation, are single-member districts a requirement or otherwise implied?No.

Does the proposed legislation provide for Voting Rights Act compliance (e.g. can the commission use voter history information)?Yes. The commission must consider protection of voting rights of racial, ethnic and language minority
groups as required by law, and may not divide cities unless required to protect the voting rights of such groups. The bill also contains provisions prohibiting the use of political data, unless needed to comply with federal law.

Under the proposed legislation, how is the commission formed?The redistricting commission shall consist of five members who shall be retired judges of the Kansas court of appeals or retired justices of the Kansas Supreme Court. The president of the Kansas senate, the minority leader of the Kansas senate, the speaker of the Kansas House of Representatives and the minority leader of the Kansas House of Representatives shall appoint one member each. The commission creates the plans, the legislature votes on them.

Under the proposed legislation, are competitive districts favored?Neutral; the redistricting commission shall consider the following, in descending order from highest to lowest priority: Equality of population as required by law; protection of voting rights of racial, ethnic and language minority groups as required by law; preservation of political subdivisions; contiguity and compactness of districts; and avoidance of placing more than one incumbent in a district.

Under the proposed legislation, can members of the public submit plans?No.